NOTE: An earlier version of this piece incorrectly listed the cutoff/eligibility birth date as Sept. 1, 1993. It is Sept. 1, 1992. Changes have been made to reflect this new date.

COLUMBUS — Gary Bettman said they’ll be “incredibly competitive.”

Patrick Kane said ‘it’s a young man’s game.”

Well, in 19 months we’ll know for sure.

During Saturday’s official announcement of the 2016 World Cup of Hockey — which will include new entities in Team Europe (players outside of Russia, Sweden, Finland and the Czech Republic) and the North American Youngstars — there was plenty of focus on the latter.

Specifically, who’s going to be on this team? And how good will it be?

Per ESPN, Youngstars-eligible players will need to be 23 or younger by Sept. 1, 2016 — meaning the cutoff birth date is Sept. 1, 1992. What’s more, 23-and-under players can only play for the Youngstars, not the Canadian or U.S. senior national teams.

And that could make for some interesting roster decisions.

Per Bettman, World Cup teams will carry traditional 23-man rosters. To give an idea of what the North American Youngstars are currently working with, here’s a list of eligible players that’ve participated in NHL games this year.

Obviously, the above players will have matured and gained experience, and players yet to make their NHL debuts will be in the mix. Many have already speculated about the projected top two picks at the 2015 Draft — Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel — becoming Youngstars teammates; there are also those that starred at the recently-completed World Junior Championships (think Max Domi, Samuel Morin, Josh Morrissey, Nic Petan, Dylan Larkin, Sonny Milano, Anthony DeAngelo, etc.)

Goaltending will probably be the biggest issue. Rarely do netminders become NHL regulars at that young an age; as such, you’ll speculatively hear the names of Malcolm Subban, Zach Fucale and Thatcher Demko get thrown around. The goaltending position is, by far, the most difficult to handicap.

All of which begs the question: While the Youngstars idea is great in theory, will it actually work when executed? Will the Youngstars provide stiffer competition than, say, Switzerland, which sits seventh in the latest IIHF Rankings?

One guy that sounded entirely on board with the Youngstars was Kane — who, you’ll remember, made his NHL debut at 18 and went on to win the Calder.

“If you look at hockey these days it’s a young man’s game, more that ever now,” Kane said on Saturday. “Teenagers are coming into the league and playing right away now, and the skill level is better and better.

“I think we all like watching young players play the game. I know myself I like watching the World Juniors to see who are the next up and coming guys, and I think fans enjoy that too.”

Team Foligno and Team Toews announced the All-Star and rookie assignments for tonight’s All-Star Skills competition, which you can watch live at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN or online at NBCSports.com.

Maple Leafs’ forward Phil Kessel, who was traded from Team Toews to Team Foligno Friday night highlights the list of players participating in the fastest skater competition. Jonathan Drouin of the Lightning, Habs’ Jiri Sekac and Buffalo’s Zemgus Girigensons will also skate for Team Foligno. They’ll compete against Tyler Seguin, who was involved in the Kessel trade, Mike Hoffman of the Ottawa Senators, Panthers’ rookie Aaron Ekblad and Blues’ sniper Vladimir Tarasenko.

Team Foligno will set Alex Ovechkin, Claude Giroux, Ryan Johansen free in the breakaway challenge, they’ll face Team Toews’ Corey Crawford. For Team Toews’ Tarasenko, Jakub Voracek and Johnny Gaudreau will be tasked with beating Brian Elliott.

Bobby Ryan, Nick Foligno, Radim Vrbata and Patrick Kane will receive passes from Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Anze Kopitar for Team Foligno in the accuracy shooting competition. Rick Nash and Patrik Elias will feed shooters Ryan Getzlaf, Patrice Bergeron, John Tavares and Jonathan Toews for Team Toews.

Ryan Johansen and Kane highlight Team Foligno participants for the challenge relay while Team Toews replied with Gaudreau and Bergeron.

Jets defenseman Dustin Byfuglien will be part of a group of four shooters for Team Foligno in the hardest shot competition. They’ll be challenged by the likes of Brent Seabrook and Shea Weber from Team Toews.

The shootout competition will feature the likes of Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos from Team Foligno go up against Tarasenko and Tavares from Team Toews.

Individual winners will be crowned from each of the six events and points in the overall team vs. team competition will also be awarded from each challenge.

The beauty of the 2015 NHL All-Star Game’s fantasy draft is recreating that feeling of picking teams in a way that evokes playground nostalgia. Of course, there’s one subversive twist … a single player experiences something they likely didn’t encounter often as kids: getting picked last.

With media availability kicking in on Friday, some players shared their thoughts on possibly following Phil Kessel as an All-Star who was tabbed last. The range of emotions seemed quite varied.

For Ottawa Senators forward Bobby Ryan, the consolation prize of a new car won’t be enough incentive to go last overall, as he told the Ottawa Citizen.

“I really don’t want a Kia,” Ryan says. “Although if it happened, I’m not going to be upset about it. Mom will have a nice ride.”

Ryan noted that he already dropped former Anaheim Ducks teammate Ryan Getzlaf to try to convince him that he would be a “mid-round steal.”

While Ryan represents the denial phase, New Jersey Devils veteran Patrik Elias seems to cover the acceptance spectrum, as the Bergen Record reports.

“It is what it is,” Elias said. “It’s good for the fans. It’s fine. The draft is the draft. I don’t care where I’m picked. I’m just happy to be there.”

While Elias takes the veteran approach, Arizona Coyotes defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is almost like the new kid at school.

#Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson said there is a good chance he is picked last tonight. “Just a feeling…I don’t really know anyone here, so…”

For the record, Friday is Media Day for the 2015 All-Star weekend, not Pick on Zemgus Girgensons Day.

Brovada released some 2015 All-Star odds today, covering obvious questions such as who will be selected first and last during the fantasy draft (as well as more esoteric ones, like Jaroslav Halak and Carey Price being on the same team).

Let’s start with who might be selected last:

Who will be picked last in the 2015 NHL All Star Draft

Any Other Player 3/1

Zemgus Girgensons (BUF) 4/1

Radim Vrbata (VAN) 4/1

Patrik Elias (NJ) 5/1

Bobby Ryan (OTT) 6/1

Tyler Johnson (TB) 6/1

Phil Kessel (TOR) 9/1

Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) 15/1

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM) 15/1

Tyler Seguin (DAL) 20/1

Patrice Bergeron (BOS) 30/1

Jakub Voracek (PHI) 30/1

Claude Giroux (PHI) 50/1

Alex Ovechkin (WAS) 100/1

Steven Stamkos (TB) 100/1

Ryan Johansen (CLB) 100/1

Anze Kopitar (LA) 100/1

John Tavares (NYI) 100/1

(Don’t sleep on the “one of the captains outright trolling a friend and/or teammate,” by the way.)

On the flip side, who might get selected first?

Who will be picked first in the 2015 NHL All Star Draft

Alex Ovechkin (WAS) 2/1

Steven Stamkos (TB) 2/1

Ryan Johansen (CLB) 4/1

Duncan Keith (CHI) 10/1

Corey Crawford (CHI) 10/1

Shea Weber (NAS) 12/1

Anze Kopitar (LA) 30/1

John Tavares (NYI) 30/1

Phil Kessel (TOR) 30/1

Brent Seabrook (CHI) 40/1

Carey Price (MON) 40/1

Claude Giroux (PHI) 40/1

Patrice Bergeron (BOS) 40/1

Tyler Seguin (DAL) 40/1

Any Other Player 40/1

Zemgus Girgensons (BUF) 50/1

Jakub Voracek (PHI) 50/1

Vladimir Tarasenko (STL) 50/1

Jaroslav Halak (NYI) 80/1

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (EDM) 80/1

Ryan Suter (MIN) 80/1

Tyler Johnson (TB) 80/1

Bobby Ryan (OTT) 80/1

Marc-Andre Fleury (PIT) 80/1

Roberto Luongo (FLA) 80/1

Mark Giordano (CAL) 80/1

Brent Burns (SJ) 100/1

Dustin Byfuglien (WPG) 100/1

Erik Johnson (COL) 100/1

Justin Faulk (CAR) 100/1

Kevin Shattenkirk (STL) 100/1

Patrik Elias (NJ) 100/1

Radim Vrbata (VAN) 100/1

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (PHO) 100/1

Despite being one of the better offensive defensemen in the NHL, Oliver Ekman-Larsson said he wouldn’t be shocked if he went last:

#Coyotes D Oliver Ekman-Larsson said there is a good chance he is picked last tonight. “Just a feeling…I don’t really know anyone here, so…”